Photo Tour: Jordan

Experience one of the 7 Wonders of the World with GPP this September!

Join us on our exclusive, 8-person international photo tour in the diverse and stunning landscape of Jordan! From natural landscapes to breathtaking historical sites, Jordan is a true gem of the region. We will visit the vibrant city of Amman, marvel at the wonders of Petra, adventure over unparalleled terrain, be dazzled by the rich colours of Wadi Rum, and unwind along the banks of the Dead Sea. Prepare to fall in love with a people, a place, and a culture whose riches cannot be exhausted!

All throughout our journey, you will enjoy top-level photographic instruction from GPP Tour Leader Tonya Colson. From an abundance of opportunities for travel and landscape shots to specialty sessions on long exposure night photography to daily lessons and review sessions, we enable you to bring your best images to life. Meanwhile, our local guide will give you richbackground into Jordan’s history, answering your questions and furthering the depth of your photographs and your overall tour experience.

Tour Outline

Our adventure begins in Amman where we will open with an orientation lunch followed by a session in street photography and a visit to some of the famous historical sites around the city.

We will hit the road the next morning, stopping at hilltop Kerak Castle on our way to Wadi Musa, the famed home of Petra. The afternoon will be dedicated to visiting Petra and becoming acquainted with this stunning historical site. The following day we will we will focus on photographing sites within the park, followed by a night visit to Petra where we will seize the opportunity to engage in long exposure photography for the first time.

In the morning we will depart for scenic Wadi Rum, photographing awe-inspiring rock formations and desert landscapes before arriving at our bedouin camp for the evening. At the camp, we will enjoy relaxation, an image review session, and a lovely desert sunset. We will close the evening with more long exposure photography by learning how to photograph star trails.

The next day will open with a sunrise camel ride and/or photography session, followed by breakfast at the camp. From there we’ll head to the Dead Sea for image review, relaxation, and peaceful sea views. The next morning we will depart to the airport for flights home.

We believe in making the most of every moment, so we will begin each day bright and early as we seek out the best light, and we will continue through each day with a flexible schedule that allows us to take full advantage of every special opportunity and challenge that comes our way. Your instructors will offer daily photographic instruction, and our local guide will be delighted to offer cultural insights and answers any burning questions you may have. We will review our images as a group every day so you can keep improving your photographic skills every step along the way!

Summary

Dates: September 30 - October 5, 2016 (5 nights, 6 days)

Lodging: We will stay in 4-star hotels in Amman, Wadi Musa (Petra), and the Dead Sea. We will also stay in a comfortable permanent camp in Wadi Rum.

Cost per Person: USD 2,700 (Approximately AED 9,950 depending on the conversion rate your Bank offers you) for single occupancy. Contact us if you are planning to travel with a companion and would like a shared room rate.

Our adventure begins in Amman where we will open with an orientation lunch followed by a session in street photography and a visit to some of the famous historical sites around the city.

We will hit the road the next morning, stopping at hilltop Kerak Castle on our way to Wadi Musa, the famed home of Petra. The afternoon will be dedicated to visiting Petra and becoming acquainted with this stunning historical site. The following day we will we will focus on photographing sites within the park, followed by a night visit to Petra where we will seize the opportunity to engage in long exposure photography for the first time.

In the morning we will depart for scenic Wadi Rum, photographing awe-inspiring rock formations and desert landscapes before arriving at our bedouin camp for the evening. At the camp, we will enjoy relaxation, an image review session, and a lovely desert sunset. We will close the evening with more long exposure photography by learning how to photograph star trails.

The next day will open with a sunrise camel ride and/or photography session, followed by breakfast at the camp. From there we’ll head to the Dead Sea for image review, relaxation, and peaceful sea views. The next morning we will depart to the airport for flights home.

We believe in making the most of every moment, so we will begin each day bright and early as we seek out the best light, and we will continue through each day with a flexible schedule that allows us to take full advantage of every special opportunity and challenge that comes our way. Your instructors will offer daily photographic instruction, and our local guide will be delighted to offer cultural insights and answers any burning questions you may have. We will review our images as a group every day so you can keep improving your photographic skills every step along the way!

Summary

Dates: September 30 - October 5, 2016 (5 nights, 6 days)

Lodging: We will stay in 4-star hotels in Amman, Wadi Musa (Petra), and the Dead Sea. We will also stay in a comfortable permanent camp in Wadi Rum.

Cost per Person: USD 2,700 (Approximately AED 9,950 depending on the conversion rate your Bank offers you) for single occupancy. Contact us if you are planning to travel with a companion and would like a shared room rate.

Our staff will take Emirates Airlines flight EK901 direct from Dubai to Amman (AMM) landing at 09:45 a.m. If you will be arriving on an earlier flight, please let us know so we can arrange your airport transfer. We will drop our bags at our hotel, then start our tour at 12:30 with lunch and orientation. We’ll then be joined by our local guide who will lead us on a street photography walk and a visit to the Roman Theatre, before enjoying sunset views of Amman city at the historic Citadel. We’ll then enjoy our first group dinner, overnighting in Amman.

Day 2: Kerak Castle-Wadi Musa

We’ll begin our drive to the historic hilltop Kerak Castle in the morning, afterward continuing on to Wadi Musa. After lunch and hotel check-in, we’ll make our first visit to Petra- one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. We’ll return to our hotel and enjoy dinner, followed by image review and suggestions/tips for photography on the next day. Overnight in Wadi Musa.

Day 3:Wadi Musa (Petra)

We will spend the day visiting the highlights of Petra including the Treasury and the Monastery. We’ll have lunch within the park and have some time to explore further after lunch. In late afternoon we’ll return to our hotel for a bit of relaxation before gathering for a low light photography briefing and candlelit visit to Petra by night. We’ll enjoy a later dinner and overnight once more in Wadi Musa.

Day 4:Wadi Rum

After breakfast we’ll head to beautiful Wadi Rum, where we’ll enjoy a Bedouin 4x4 excursion (not dune bashing!) through the desert and stunning rock formations. We’ll end up at Sun City camp, a full service Bedouin camp site for a bit of relaxation and a briefing on long exposure star trails photography. After sunset and dinner we’ll try our hand at a few star trails before retiring for the evening.

Day 5:Wadi Rum to Dead Sea

We will have the option of a sunrise camel ride/camel photo shoot for those who are interested in early starts, followed by breakfast at the camp. We’ll leisurely make our way to the Dead Sea, stopping at a seaside and a panoramic viewpoint along the way. Once at the Dead Sea we’ll have time to relax, float in the sea, and do our final image review. We’ll enjoy our last dinner together in Jordan and overnight at the Dead Sea.

Day 6:Transfer to Amman

After breakfast we will proceed to the Amman airport. We recommend booking on EK 902 departing for Dubai at 11:00 a.m. If you prefer to lengthen your stay in Jordan, please just let us know and we can help you arrange transfers to your next destination.

*Timings and schedules may be adjusted to accommodate weather or other unforeseen events.

We will hold a meetup in early September to provide a detailed tour orientation, answer questions and meet the instructor (Tonya) and the group. If you would like to be informed of this meetup, please email us at info@gulfphotoplus.com with the title “Inform me re: Jordan Tour Meetup.”

Arrival:

Our staff will arrive in Amman on September 30th. We will fly Emirates Airlines EK 901 from DXB to ADD, landing at 09:45 a.m. We will provide transfer from the airport to our accommodation in Amman. If you plan to arrive on an earlier flight, keep us informed of your arrival and departure plans so we can coordinate with you and provide your transfer as needed.

Departure:

We will transfer via bus from the Dead Sea to Amman on day 6. We will provide transfer to the international terminal, where our staff will depart on Emirates Airlines EK 902 departing 11:10am. If you’d like to extend your stay in Jordan, please keep us informed of your travel plans so we can help you coordinate an alternate transfer.

Visas:

Most nationalities are able to get a tourist visa on arrival. Single entry visas cost 40 JOD (approximately 56 USD). However changes do occur so we recommend checking current requirements for your nationality. Jordan has consular services in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and can assist you.

Lodging/Food:

We will stay in 4 star hotels in Amman, Wadi Musa, and the Dead Sea. In Wadi Rum we will stay at the Sun City Camp, a full service Bedouin –style tourist camp. Halal options are widely available in Jordan. Tap water is safe, but may taste of salt and chlorine so bottled water is preferred.

Arabic is the official language in Jordan. English is widely spoken, and most signs are in Arabic and English. Our guide will be on hand to translate any questions for you.

Electrical current is 220V, most plugs are two prong with round pins or the large three prong type found in Dubai. Bring a travel adapter, and charge cameras and laptops whenever there is an opportunity.

Weather: Please always check the forecast before traveling. The sun can be strong in daytime, so consider sunscreen and a hat. Nights can be cool, particularly in Wadi Rum so a jacket is also advised. Good walking shoes are a must.

Jordan is not a particularly conservative country, but it is predominantly Muslim. Moderate dress is recommended. Jordan is considered very safe for travelers, and locals are generally very friendly.

Travel insurance is recommended.

**NB - all Photo Tour participants will be required to sign a compulsory GPP waiver of liability prior to departure, as per standard practice.

Health information:

We recommend drinking bottled water while in rural areas in Jordan.

Please bring all required medications with you, as medical services may not be readily accessible in Wadi Rum.

If you get motion sick in the car, consider medication. We will travel by bus in between areas of Jordan.

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Who Should Attend

You love stunning landscapes and history and are confident using your camera in Aperture Priority or Manual mode. If you would like to join the tour but don’t have such experience, consider taking our Photography Level 1 workshop to bring you up to speed.